Composite dumpster

ABSTRACT

A dumpster comprises a fiber-reinforced composite material. Exemplarily, the dumpster comprises a metallic frame and a plurality of fiber-reinforced polymer panels secured to the metallic frame to define an interior waste storage volume for storing waste in the dumpster.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates generally to dumpsters.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Dumpsters are used to store waste material. For example, there aremunicipal waste dumpsters used to store municipal waste and which can beloaded onto and off of a vehicle for transporting the dumpster between awaste collection site and a landfill or other location.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided adumpster that comprises a relatively high strength-to-weightfiber-reinforced composite material. Exemplarily, the dumpster comprisesa metallic frame and a plurality of fiber-reinforced polymer panelssecured to the metallic frame to define an interior waste storage volumefor storing waste in the dumpster.

Illustratively, according to another aspect of the disclosure, thedumpster comprises opposed first and second side walls, first and secondend walls interconnecting the first and second side walls at oppositelongitudinal ends of the dumpster, and a floor to which the first andsecond side walls and the first and second end walls are secured. Thefirst and second side walls, the first and second end walls, and thefloor cooperate to define the interior waste storage volume. Further,the first end wall comprises a door pivotably mounted at the top thereoffor discharge of waste from the interior waste storage volume.Exemplarily, each of the first side wall, the second side wall, thefirst end wall, the second end wall, and the floor comprises at leastone of the fiber-reinforced polymer panels.

The above and other features of the present disclosure will becomeapparent from the following description and the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a composite dumpster;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective of the dumpster;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view showing tilting of the dumpster to emptywaste therefrom upon opening of a door;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary end elevational view of a first end of thedumpster showing a U-shaped gasket which is viewable in the absence of adoor of the first end;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along lines 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is an end elevational view of a second end of the dumpsteropposite to the first end; and

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the dumpster.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

While the concepts of the present disclosure are susceptible to variousmodifications and alternative forms, specific exemplary embodimentsthereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and willherein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, thatthere is no intent to limit the disclosure to the particular formsdisclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover allmodifications, equivalents, and alternatives following within the spiritand scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, there is shown a composite dumpster 10. Thedumpster is made of a fiber-reinforced composite material so that thedumpster 10 has a relatively high strength-to-weight ratio. As such, thedumpster 10 is useful for storing all sorts of waste materialsincluding, but not limited to, municipal solid waste in an interiorwaste storage volume 12 defined in the dumpster 10. For example, thedumpster 10 may be placed at or near a work site or other wastecollection site for temporary storage of waste material as needed. Whenthe dumpster 10 is full or it is otherwise time to remove the dumpster10, the dumpster 10 can be loaded onto a vehicle and transported to alandfill or other location where the dumpster 10 can be emptied of itscontents (FIG. 3). The dumpster 10 can then be transported to the sameor another site and unloaded from the vehicle for re-use. Use of thefiber-reinforced composite material in the dumpster 10 not only promotesa relatively high strength-to-weight ratio for the dumpster 10, it alsopromotes the longevity of the useful life of the dumpster 10.

The fiber-reinforced composite material may be embodied in a variety ofways. For example, the material may be embodied as a fiber-reinforcedpolymer (FRP) having a reinforcing agent in a polymer resin matrix. TheFRP material may be embodied as any FRP structure including, but notlimited to, a solid laminate or a sandwich panel (e.g., a panel havingfirst and second skins with a core sandwiched therebetween and possiblyfiber insertions extending from the first skin through the core to thesecond skin). As such, the FRP structures may be embodied, for example,as either 2-D or 3-D structures (e.g., a 2-D or 3-D laminate or panel).An exemplary sandwich panel for use in the dumpster 10 is TRANSONITE®available from Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. of Raleigh, N.C.

The matrix may include a thermosetting resin, although thermoplasticresins are also contemplated for use. Examples of thermosetting resinswhich may be used include, but are not limited to, unsaturatedpolyesters, vinyl esters, polyurethanes, epoxies, phenolics, andmixtures and blends thereof.

The reinforcing agent may include E-glass fibers, although otherreinforcements such as S-glass, carbon, KEVLAR®, aramids, metal, UHMW(ultra high molecular weight) materials, high modulus organic fibers(e.g. aromatic polyamides, polybenzamidazoles, and aromatic polyimides),and other organic fibers (e.g. polyethylene and nylon) may be used.Blends and hybrids of the various reinforcing materials may be used.Other suitable composite materials may be utilized including whiskersand fibers such as boron, aluminum silicate, and basalt.

In the case of where the FRP structure is embodied as a sandwich panel,the core type may include, but is not limited to, balsa wood, foam,open-cell material, closed-cell material, and various types ofhoneycomb.

The FRP structures may be embodied as any of the structures disclosed inU.S. Pat. Nos. 5,794,402; 6,023,806; 6,044,607; 6,070,378; 6,081,955;6,108,998; 6,467,118 B2; 6,645,333; 6,676,785, the entirety of each ofwhich is hereby incorporated by reference. It should be appreciated thatthe structures disclosed in the above-identified patents may be sized,scaled, dimensioned, orientated, or otherwise configured in any desiredmanner to fit the needs of a given design of the FRP structure.

Illustratively, the dumpster 10 is configured as an open top hollowrectangular box, although other geometric or irregular shapes are alsocontemplated (e.g., cubic or other polygonal shapes). In theillustrative rectangular box example, the dumpster 10 has opposed sidewalls 14, a first end wall 16 interconnecting the side walls 14 at afirst longitudinal end of the dumpster 10, a second end wall 18interconnecting the side walls 14 at an opposite second longitudinal endof the dumpster 10, and a floor 20 to which the walls 14, 16, 18 aresecured. The walls 14, 16, 18 and the floor 20 cooperate to define theinterior waste storage volume 12. In addition, the walls 14, 16, 18cooperate to provide the dumpster 10 with a top opening 22 for receptionof waste material into the volume 12. The top opening 12 may be coveredor uncovered.

Exemplarily, the dumpster 10 is about 20 feet long, about 8 feet wide,and about 12 feet high and weighs less than 10,000 pounds (4,536 kg).For example, the dumpster 10 weighs about 6300 pounds (2,858 kg). Thisis less than the weight of all-metal dumpsters weighing 10,500 pounds(4,763 kg) or, in some cases, 10,150 pounds (4,604 kg).

Further exemplarily, the dumpster 10 is constructed to satisfy ISO(International Organization for Standardization) 1496-1:1990(E) which ishereby incorporated by reference herein. Under a load of about 52,911pounds (24,000 kg) (the load including the weight of both the dumpster10 and cargo therein), a wall 14 of the dumpster 10 deflected only about2 15/16inches (7.46 cm), within the ISO envelope. The wall 14 returnedto its original state upon removal of the cargo. Each wall 14 is thusresiliently deflectable.

To provide the dumpster 10 with the thus-described shape or other shape,the dumpster 10 comprises a frame 24 and a number of FRP panels 26secured thereto and sized according to their particular use and locationwithin the dumpster 10. The structural members of the frame 24 may allbe metallic, may all be made of a fiber-reinforced composite material,or may be a mix of metallic and fiber-reinforced composite members. Inthe case where the frame 24 has at least one metallic structural member,the frame 24 may be referred to as a metallic frame, as in theillustrative example of the dumpster 24 which has a number of metallicstructural members made of carbon steel or other metal.

In the illustrated embodiment, each side wall 14 is provided by a numberof frame members and a number of panels 28. In particular, exemplarily,each side wall 14 is provided by an upper horizontal longitudinaltubular beam 30, a lower horizontal longitudinal channel 32, a pair ofvertical corner posts 34, and joints 36 in the form of castingsinterconnecting the posts 34, the beam 30, and the channel 32.

There are, for example, three panels 28 a, 28 b, 28 c which form themain body of the wall 14. The panels 28 a, 28 b, 28 c are secured to thebeam 30, the channel 32, and the posts 34 by use of additional framemembers. For example, on the outside of the panels 28 a, 28 b, 28 c,there are a horizontal upper channel 38, a pair of corner angle bars 40,and a pair of vertical tubular bars 42, and, on the inside of the panels28 a, 28 b, 28 c, there are a number (e.g., three) of horizontal upperangle bars 44, a horizontal lower angle bar 46, and a pair of verticalT-shaped bars 48. Each of the panels 28 a, 28 b, 28 c of the wall 14 issecured to the upper channel 38, the lower channel 32, one of the upperangle bars 44, and the lower angle bar 46. The intermediate panel 28 bis also secured to both tubular bars 42 and both T-shaped bars 48, eachof which extends between the intermediate panel 28 b and an adjacent endpanel 28 a, 28 c. Each end panel 28 a, 28 c of the wall 14 is alsosecured to one of the tubular bars 42, one of the T-shaped bars 48, andone of the corner angle bars 40. The panels 28 a, 28 b, 28 c may besecured to their respective frame members by use of, for example, anadhesive or other bonding agent and/or one or more fasteners.

An access hole 50 may be formed in any of the panels 28 a, 28 b, 28 c ofthe wall 14, illustratively, the intermediate panel 28 b. The hole 50may be closed with a plug 52 when not in use.

The first end wall 16 is provided, for example, by a number of the framemembers and a door 54. The frame members include a pair of posts 34 andhorizontal upper and lower transverse tubular bars 56, 58interconnecting the posts 34 via joints 36. Gussets 59 may be secured tobeams 30 and the bar 56.

The door 54 is mounted at its top to the upper transverse bar 56 byhinges 60 for pivotable movement between a closed position shown inFIGS. 1 and 2 and an opened position FIG. 3. The door 54 may be lockedin the closed position by a lock mechanism including a first latch 62mounted to the door 60 and a second latch 64 mounted to each panel 28 a.The door 54 includes a panel 28 d secured to vertical tubular bars 66and horizontal tubular bars 68.

Referring to FIGS. 4-6, a deformable gasket 70 is provided to establisha sealed connection between it and the panel 28 d upon closure of thedoor 54 to prevent leakage from volume 12. Illustratively, the gasket 70is generally U-shaped such that it has a pair of vertical portions 72and a connecting horizontal portion 74. Each vertical portion 72 issecured to a vertical plate 76 secured to a respective panel 28 a. Thehorizontal portion 74 is secured to the horizontal plate 78 secured to apanel 28 e of the floor 20. The gasket 70 is compressed (e.g., about25%) when the door 54 is closed and returns to its relaxed state toassume a generally D-shaped configuration when the door 54 is opened.Exemplarily, the gasket 70 is made of medium density neoprene althoughother materials suitable for effecting the seal may be used.

Referring to FIG. 7, the second end wall 18 is provided, for example, bya number of frame members and a panel 28 f. Horizontal upper and lowertransverse tubular bars 80, 82 are secured to corner posts 34 via joints36. The panel 28 f is secured to these frame members by the use ofadditional frame members. On the outside, the panel 28 f is secured to ahorizontal upper channel 84 secured to the bar 80, a horizontal lowerangle bar 86 secured to the bar 82, and a pair of vertical angle bars 88secured to the posts 34. As shown in FIG. 2, on the inside, the panel 28f is secured to a horizontal upper angle bar 90 secured to the bar 80, ahorizontal lower angle bar 92 secured to the bar 82, and a pair ofvertical corner angle bars 94 secured to the panel 28 f and therespective panel 28 c. Additional gussets 59 may be secured to beams 30and bar 80.

Referring to FIG. 8, the floor 20 is provided, for example, by a numberof frame members and the panel 28 e. Exemplarily, the panel 28 e is onerelatively large panel extending most of the length of the dumpster 10although the panel 28 e may be formed of a plurality of smaller panels.The panel 28 e (or panels) are secured to the two longitudinal channels32 and a plurality of transverse channels 94 secured to the channels 32.

As for the materials of the frame members, as alluded to above, theframe members may be made of metal and/or a fiber-reinforced compositematerial. Exemplarily, all of the frame members are made of metal (e.g.,steel) except frame members 46, 48, 92, and 94.

An exemplarily construction of each panel 28 is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6with reference to panels 28 a, 28 d, 28 e. The panel 28 is configured,for example, as a sandwich panel comprising first and second skins 96,98, a core 100 sandwiched between the skins 96, 98, and a plurality offiber insertions 102 extending from the first skin 96 through the core100 to the second skin 98. The skins 96, 98 are made, for example, of aglass-fiber-reinforced polyester resin polymer and the core 100 is made,for example, of urethane foam, although any of the reinforcing agentsand matrix materials mentioned above can be used in the panel 28.

While the concepts of the present disclosure have been illustrated anddescribed in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, suchillustration and description is to be considered as exemplary and notrestrictive in character, it being understood that only illustrativeembodiments have been shown and described and that all changes andmodifications that come within the spirit of the disclosure are desiredto be protected.

There are a plurality of advantages of the concepts of the presentdisclosure arising from the various features of the systems describedherein. It will be noted that alternative embodiments of each of thesystems of the present disclosure may not include all of the featuresdescribed yet still benefit from at least some of the advantages of suchfeatures. Those of ordinary skill in the art may readily devise theirown implementations of a system that incorporate one or more of thefeatures of the present disclosure and fall within the spirit and scopeof the invention as defined by the appended claims.

1. A dumpster comprising opposed first and second side walls, first andsecond end walls interconnecting the first and second side walls atopposite longitudinal ends of the dumpster, and a floor to which thefirst and second side walls and the first and second end walls aresecured, the first and second side walls, the first and second endwalls, and the floor cooperating to define an interior waste storagevolume, the first end wall comprising a door openable to discharge wastefrom the interior waste storage volume, wherein at least one of thefirst side wall, the second side wall, the first end wall, the secondend wall, or the floor comprises a fiber-reinforced composite component.2. The dumpster of claim 1, wherein each of the first side wall, thesecond side wall, the first end wall, the second wall, and the floorcomprises a fiber-reinforced polymer panel.
 3. The dumpster of claim 2,comprising a metallic frame to which each panel is secured.
 4. Thedumpster of claim 2, wherein each of the first and second side wallscomprises a plurality of fiber-reinforced polymer panels.
 5. Thedumpster of claim 1, wherein component is a fiber-reinforced compositepanel comprising first and second skins and a core sandwichedtherebetween.
 6. The dumpster of claim 5, wherein the panel comprises aplurality of fiber insertions extending from the first skin through thecore to the second skin.
 7. The dumpster of claim 1, comprising agasket, wherein the door comprises a fiber-reinforced composite panelthat cooperates with the gasket to establish a seal therebetween whenthe door is closed.
 8. The dumpster of claim 1, comprising a metallicframe member to which the fiber-reinforced composite component issecured.
 9. A dumpster comprising a metallic frame and a plurality offiber-reinforced polymer panels secured to the metallic frame to definean interior waste storage volume for storing waste in the dumpster. 10.The dumpster of claim 9, comprising a fiber-reinforced polymerlongitudinal member connecting two adjacent fiber-reinforced polymerpanels.
 11. The dumpster of claim 9, wherein the metallic frame definesan opening at the top of the dumpster for introducing waste through theopening into the interior waste storage volume.
 12. The dumpster ofclaim 9, wherein at least one of the panels is included in a door of thedumpster.
 13. The dumpster of claim 9, wherein at least one of thepanels is included in a wall of the dumpster.
 14. The dumpster of claim9, wherein at least one of the panels is included in a floor of thedumpster.
 15. A dumpster comprising a fiber-reinforced compositematerial, wherein the dumpster complies with ISO 1496-1:1990(E).
 16. Thedumpster of claim 15, comprising a wall, a floor, a door, and aninterior waste storage volume defined at least partially by the wall,the floor, and the door, wherein at least one of the wall, the floor,and the door comprises a fiber-reinforced polymer panel.
 17. Thedumpster of claim 15, comprising a fiber-reinforced polymer panel. 18.The dumpster of claim 17, wherein the fiber-reinforced polymer panelcomprises first and second skins, a core sandwiched between the firstand second skins, and a plurality of fiber insertions extending from thefirst skin through the core to the second skin.
 19. The dumpster ofclaim 15, wherein the dumpster weighs less than 10,000 pounds.
 20. Thedumpster of claim 15, wherein the dumpster weighs about 6,300 pounds andis about 20 feet long, about 8 feet wide, and about 12 feet high.